View attachment 1945 Potatosack (Cathy) suggested I start this new forum so there you are! "Consecration to the Mother of God," says Pope Pius XII, "is a total gift of self, for the whole of life and for all eternity; and a gift which is not a mere formality or sentimentality, but effectual, comprising the full intensity of the Christian life - Marian life." This consecration, the Pope explained, "tends essentially to union with Jesus, under the guidance of Mary." By our consecration we promise to become dependent on Mary in all things: to offer all our prayers and oblations to God through Mary, and to seek every gift from God through Mary. And we do this with the greatest confidence. Since she is our mother, she knows our needs better than we; and since she is Queen of Heaven, she has immediate access to the infinite treasury of graces in the Kingdom of her Divine Son. Mary is not only the Mother of Jesus, Son of the Eternal Father; she is also Mother of all the Father's adopted children. As their Mother, she has been given the role of molding them into the likeness of Jesus. Every work of grace, every increase of grace, is a work of the Holy Spirit; but as in the Incarnation of the Divine Word God used human instruments, so does He in the sanctification of each individual soul. As He chose Mary as the instrument through whom He would come to us, so He chose Mary as the instrument through whom we should go to Him. And both the mystery of God coming to us through Mary, and our being led to God through Mary, is a work of the Holy Spirit. So when we speak of Mary's unique role in our sanctification, she is but the instrument the Holy Spirit uses in sharing with us the divine life of grace. It is in this sense that Mary fashions us into the likeness of Christ. However, that this transformation - through Mary's help - be accomplished in a notable degree, there must be an awareness of her role in our sanctification, a confidence in her maternal concern and in her power under God, a surrender of oneself into her hands, and a fervent, frequent and confident seeking of her aid. This usually comes through some form of consecration to the Mother of God. At Fatima Our Lady asked for consecration to her Immaculate Heart, a consecration which, among other things, calls for the devotion of the Five First Saturdays, which includes the Rosary, meditation and Communions of reparation - all done in reparation to her Immaculate Heart. It involves a striving to fulfill her requests for prayer and sacrifices for the conversion of sinners and in reparation for offenses against the Divine Majesty. In a word, it involves a striving to fulfill all that she asked for at Fatima, and trying to bring others to heed her requests. Living that consecration means becoming an apostle of Mary, striving to imitate her virtues, and to place in her hands the flowers of little sacrifices of reparation for the salvation of souls, so that we might strengthen her hand against the attacks of the Evil One, and hasten the day of the triumph of her Immaculate Heart. To everyone who makes that consecration and sincerely tries to live it, the words of Our Lady to the child Lucia at Fatima would also apply: "I will never leave you; my Immaculate Heart will be your refuge, and the way that will lead you to God." If consecration to Mary "tends essentially to union with Jesus, under the guidance of Mary," as Pope Pius XII pointed out, we must remember that any gradual transformation into Christ requires a gradual loving acceptance of a greater share in His redeeming Cross. So when we offer ourselves to Mary to lead us, to form us into the likeness of her Son, we are offering to let her lead us along the way of the Cross. Our Blessed Mother's great concern is the salvation of the souls of her children, many of whom are being lost. She looks for generous souls among her children, who are willing to let her lead them close behind her Son, sharing more fully in His redemptive mission, filling up what is wanting in other members of the Body of Christ. Little by little they are transformed to see as Christ sees, and to desire what He desires. God wants to draw us closer to Himself, sharing more fully His Divine life; but we must understand what the fulfillment of this requires. In our Rosary, we contemplate Mary in Heaven in the Glorious Mysteries, because she had so unique a role on earth in the Sorrowful Mysteries. This is the pattern that is offered to each of us, and of which we are reminded each time we pray the Rosary. Consecration to Mary, then, requires a childlike simplicity and confidence, letting her lead one by the hand, trusting - regardless of what lies ahead - that she knows better than we what contributes most to God's glory, our sanctification and the salvation of souls. http://www.rosary-center.org/consecrt.htm
this section of the forum is to talk about all things related to marian consecration. whether it be questions, comments, a group doing the consecration together virtually and posting comments on the daily reflections, moral support as you are going through your consecration, etc. what questions do you have
We're doing the 33 Day Morning Glory version with our children, we're in Day 31 today (my wife and I did the formal St. Louis de Montfort version a couple of months ago, the graces rec'd have been unbelieveable and priceless). Last evening, my 13 year old daughter talked about how she now understood the armor that we're putting on and why I said this was one of the reason we were doing this. She literally thought we were going to wear armor, but now understands that the armor we are putting on is as prayer warriors to battle evil in Mary's army. I got something new in the readings this past weekend. The book talked about St. Louis de Montfort having a bad temper in his earlier days, but after his consecration that temper became a zeal for Christ. I am the same way, I definitely had an "Irish Temper" that would be lit, especially when seeing injustice or seeing people get picked on, but after the consecration, it's really going away and becoming more of a zeal for the rosary, prayer, the devotion, to our Faith. Anyway, I was led to do the consecration by the good people of this forum and it's quite possibly the best thing I've ever done, bar none.
I I read once that he preached a mission in a building that shared a wall with a saloon, and some rough characters were loudly mocking him from the other side. At one point, he excused himself, went next door, beat the stuffings out of them, and then came back to finish his sermon. Just goes to show, becoming a Saint is just that - becoming. It's all about the finished product!
I renewed my consecration to Mary today with about 19 others. We had classes every sun. Nite for 5 weeks on Skype from a brother in Heralds of the Gospel. It was beautiful. Pray I am worthy andI trust and thank Mary in everything.Mary please send us all extraordinary graces and to our families also and to all on this board.
May God grant you the very special grace of imitating Mary in that the Passion of Christ be never far from your thoughts.
I'm currently in the middle of the Louis de Montfort consecration, my second time doing this one, having also done 33 Days to Morning Glory twice. Every time I go through the full consecration it is like a revelation all over again, it never gets old. Always something new to learn, always being led deeper into it.
I am completely smitten by the idea of making the Consecration using Skype, Roryrory. Did you do this with USA or UK Heralds of the Gospel. I believe we have them in London. I believe the next best date to start is 20th February to complete on 25th March or Announciation. I LOVE to hear about Saint Louis de Montford knocking the stuffing out of the mockers. Didn't Jesus practically do the same to the money changers in the Temple. I did the Consecration last year and yes, it was a remarkable experience. Praised be Jesus and Mary.
The Heralds are based in Brazil but have houses in Ontario Canada.One of the brothers based in Toronto Ontario- not sure if it's Toronto but close to it gave us about 6 nights on Skype about an hour and a half each night and a social hour after. We are in another province a thousand miles away.It was very informative but with my old brain not much sticks anymore. I just have to remember to be simple and follow Mary and trust. Those making or redoing their consecration were all from this little community. The Heralds are spreading out all over the world I think. You may have them in UK as well.
Oh yes RoryRory, Heralds of the Gospel have been in the UK for some years at least as far as I know. I invited them to our parish some years ago, and they brought the Pilgrim Statue of Our Lady of Fatima, with her Immaculate heart. What a moment when they brought Blessed Mother they wore their habits/uniforms, and in such eloquent fashion. They reminded me of Heavenly soldiers. So amazing. It was a lovely day. And Blessed Mother left graces for us from that time. God bless Her. I must find out if they are still in London UK.
Yes we have the Pilgrim statue - a smaller one- here once a month- She goes to a different house every day or two- we pass Her along. We live in a rural area- fairly liberal parish- and out of the blue a young man decided to join the Heralds and study for the priesthood. It is truly amazing. All he knew about his faith was he went to mass on Sunday. He told us he knew nothing and at Christmas he told us he learned more in 3 months -- and he did -- than in his first 20 so that should give us hope.
"Never be afraid of loving the Blessed Virgin too much. You can never love Her more than Jesus." Saint Maximilian Kolbe
